Young people share their journey into work

The Employability Service is delivered in partnership with Include Youth andStart360. The service aims to increase the employability of young people from care backgrounds by enhancing their education, helping them get suitable work experience and into paid employment. Include Youth’s Give and Take Scheme is an employability programme for 16 to 21 year olds and is delivered as part of the Employability Service.

During school Tanya McCallen, 21, struggled with Maths but was given support from the service to help her during her GCSEs. Speaking at the celebration event today, she said:

“I first met with the Belfast Trust’s Employability Service in 2009, when they supported me with my Maths work during school. I applied for temporary jobs within the Trust afterwards and was successful; this gave me my first experience of paid employment and knowledge of what it would be like to work there.

“Two years ago I didn’t meet the criteria to become an auxiliary nurse, which really knocked my confidence. However I was determined to get the job the next time round and had to work very hard to give myself the best chance of securing employment.

“When the nursing auxiliary position was advertised again a year later I felt in a much better position to apply. I now had my numeracy qualification, relevant work experience and felt more confident in myself due to the mentoring support I received through Aiming Higher. I was successful in my interview and was placed on the waiting list for a post.”

Tanya’s overall goal is to work as a children’s nurse and hopes to study further in order to reach it.

“My advice to all young people is to never give up. If you want to achieve something enough you will get there.”

20-year-old Michael Donnan, a participant on Include Youth’s Give and Take Scheme was also speaking at the event today. Michael didn’t enjoy school and left without any qualifications.

“A few months later my social worker spoke to me about the Give and Take Scheme which she said would be perfect for me,” said Michael.

“I spent just over a year and a half on the Give and Take Scheme, held down a work placement, got matched with a volunteer mentor and most importantly gained 19 qualifications.”

Michael is now studying play work at Belfast Metropolitan College and receives support from Include Youth’s transitional support services.

“This would never have been possible without me completing the Give and Take Scheme. I now have the motivation and commitment to get me where I want to be in my career.”

Last year 88 per cent of the young people involved in the Employability Service moved on to education, training or employment, with almost one in five securing paid employment.

The ring-fenced employment initiative at the Belfast Trust has supported 17 young people into paid work in the last 12 months, from auxiliary nurses to support service assistants to clerical roles.

Check out some photos from the event here.

ENDS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: For more information contact Sharon Whittaker, Communications Officer at Include Youth on 028 9031 1007 or [email protected].